Saundra L. Belong

Saundra (Sandi) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 27, 1939. In her teens, Sandi and her family moved to Redwood City, California and later to Santa Clara, California. Sandi attended Lincoln High School where she would graduate as a Lincoln Lion.

Shortly thereafter, Sandi would meet the love of her life and begin a life with Jim which lasted over 62 years. Sandi and Jim would start a family in there first home in San Jose, California.

Jim and Sandi would begin a family in 1959 and Sandi was a mom like no other. If being a mom means more than having given birth to a child and caring for a child, knowing the soul of a child, and loving the child unconditionally, then this was absolutely Sandi. Sandi had the love, heart and strength to be a mother to five boys: Matthew, John, James, Daniel and Paul; or as close family members called them, Matt the Bat, Jet, Rock, Chops and P.J. Oh, yes, this was a basketball team.

In 1968, the family moved to Santa Clara, California. The boys and Jim (as a coach) would begin to get involved in youth sports such as little league baseball, pop warner football and AYSO soccer. Sandi was the mom who got involved and volunteered to help in these sports and was the proverbial “team mother”.

As the boys would grow into their teens in the 1970s, Sandi would begin working part-time at Patrick Henry Junior High School. First as a noon-time yard duty supervisor and later moving into the office as an assistant secretary. In the 1980s, Sandi would continue part-time work in the Men’s Department at the Santa Clara Mervyns and at the Briarwood After School program.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Sandi would add mother-in-law and grandma to her roles in her life. This period saw John marry his wife, Ernestine; James marry his wife Teresa and Daniel marry his wife Moreen. The grandchildren came with Daniel, Brooke, Amanda, Joshua and Robert. It was apparent that the grandchildren brought joy to her life and she did not hesitate to watch and care for them.

Unfortunately in the 2000s, Sandi would have her first fight with cancer. The breast cancer treatment would take a toll on Sandi but she was tough. In fact, if you were to ask her family, they would say that she was the toughest person they know. In the 2010s, Sandi would have a battle with kidney cancer which she would also fight but costed her one of her kidneys.

In 2015, cancer resurfaced in the nodes adjacent to her lone kidney. She began another fight, but this time the cancer spread to her kidney, lungs, breast and stomach. Her strength and toughness showed their selves again, but Sandi lost this last fight on June 28, 2021. Heaven has received another angel. The family is certain that Sandi is in heaven cheering on teams; volunteering for youth programs; and asking anyone if they need a babysitter.

Sandi was a loving wife to Jim and was his strength when needed. Jim will miss his best friend but he, like his family, knows heaven as received an angel.

Sandi would very much want to be remembered as a mother and grandmother as well. Sandi was the best mom and grandma anyone could ever asked for.

We will miss you mom and we all love you dearly.